Best way to flush the coolant system?

It seems, from what I have read here, that the best way to drain the coolant is to pull the bottom rad hose. Is this also the best place to flush the system? Should I put the garden hose in the radiator hose and flush that way or put it in the radiator and go that way? Any help is appreciated. 99 Windstar.

Some folks use the bottom radiator hose. But, now that I've finally found the radiator drain plug I intend to use it ... slightly less messy ... "slightly".

If you're just trying to get rid of all the old fluid, you might drain, refill with fresh water ... drive around the block ... drain again. If you repeat this once, you will have removed most of the old fluid. But don't go too long before you add the final fill of anti-freeze ... the system insides will rust up very quickly without chemical protectors.

Actual "flushing" (using an external pressure source), might be difficult ... especially if you have the rear heater unit.

If you have system on your hands that seems to be gunked-up, you might consider a two-part chemical (harsh cleaner, neutralizer) cooling system cleaner kit. These are still available, I believe, at NAPA.

Remove the reservoir and give it a good scrubbing inside and out.

Using distilled water for fills is recommended.

If I have a new system (or one put back in good shape), I try to keep it that way by adding a can of "anti-rust" and keeping the anti-freeze "rich". Testing seasonally, to make sure the freezing point is -40 F degs or so. I have also obtained some litmus paper and periodically check the ph. I add baking soda to keep the system "basic" instead of "acidic". I know the experts will not agree, but I do not include periodic draining and refilling as part of my vehicle maintenance program ... periodic "checking and adjusting" works just fine for me.

I just bought a 1998 Windstar yesterday and thought it best to do some services immediately; one of which was replacing/flushing the coolant. I've done this to a lot of vehicles and there are really only two easy ways to do it with cold garden hose water:Either temporarily remove the thermostat and run the garden hose into the radiator the the drain clock open or connect the garden hose to one of the heater hoses. Unfortunately neither of these methods seemed easy fo do on the Windstar due to the location of the thermostat and the heater hoses (although the rear heater hose to the rear heater core behind and drivers door and under the vehicle looked promising for a while). Anyway, this is exactly how I did it:
-Drain coolant through 19mm plastic nut/drain cock at lower driver side of the radiator being certain loosen gently the first time so as not to strip it. When coolant stops close the drain cock.
- Refill the radiator with clean water (hot water if the engine is at all warm) and run the engine with the front and rear heaters on max for 5 minutes AFTER IT REACHES NORMAL TEMPERATURE to ensure the thermostat opens fully then shut the engine off.
-Let the engine cool for about 10 minutes then, and this is important, open the DRAIN COCK to drain the still pretty hot coolant again. After you open the drain cock and some coolant drains then and only then should you open the radiator cap to vent the system to increase drain flow. It is important that you depressurize the system from the water side (bottom) and not the steam side (top) of the radiator. Let the coolant drain completely then close the drain cock again.
-Repeat this procedure until the water draining is completely clear. It took me 5 cycles to get the water clear because each refill was only about 1.25 gallons. Remember you should use hot (tap hot not boiling) water because the engine is still pretty warm each cycle.
-Once you get clear water close the drain cock and fill it with a 100% mixture of antifreeze since the system is still about half full of water. Then fill the reservoir with a 60/40 mix of antifreeze.
- I would then drive the car for a day or two and then check the specific gravity of the coolant directly from the radiator (when cool) to be certain it is at the negative 40 or so mark.
Hope that helps

WOW you guys go through a lot of steps.

All I do is drain the rad from the drain plug and drain the reservoir. Fill the rad with only distilled water, run the motor for 1-2min. Then drain the rad a second time, it's almost clear by then. Then I add the coolant and a bit more distilled water until I get a 60/40 mixture. And top up the reservoir. That's it!!

The problem with only draining the radiator once is you probably only get one third of the coolant drained (depending on the vehicle of course). Which means your pretty much just rejuvenating the coolant, but you’re not flushing the system. The idea of a flush is to keep the deposits (minerals and rust) to a minimum because they collect in the most inaccessible spot; the bottom of the cooling jackets. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of replacing a corroded freeze plug can attest to the junk that was sitting behind it when it was removed. As well acting as a catalyst for corrosion that junk acts as a sand blaster on the inside of the system wearing down the water pump, seals, heater core(s), etc. The big problem is that once the sediment is in the system it can only be removed by suspending it in a flow of water like when it is being flushed. Certainly the best method of flushing is a Prestone Flush and fill kit, but in lieu of that I would recommend more that just a single refill of the radiator.

2002 windstar sport 3.8l 60,000 miles.I think the coolant is original.How often should I change coolant and flush my radiator? Should I do it now?

every 2 years the coolant should be changed